Biography  


Matt Jones

Graduating from the University of Illinois in 1988 and its law school in 1991, Matt began his career in the child support division of the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office. Moving rapidly through the civil division Matt handled matters as diverse as solid waste landfill expansion and public health regulation enforcement before being named the Administrative Prosecutor.  In that capacity, Matt handled a wide range of matters from first degree murder to traffic enforcement,  post-conviction and parole board hearings to abuse and neglect matters; as well as serving as the State’s Attorney’s representative on numerous committees such as the initial Family Violence Coordinating Council (developing the areas first domestic violence protocol), the Pediatric Resource Center (a medical-based child advocacy center) and the Sexual Assault Advisory Committee of the Center for Prevention of Abuse (the area’s rape crisis center).

 

Upon leaving the office in January 1996, Matt took a position as legal counsel and criminal justice policy advisor to the Illinois Senate Majority where he served for three years.  While there, he was responsible for the analysis, redrafting or negotiation of every piece of criminal law legislation in the state, including the landmark Juvenile Justice Reform initiative enacted in 1998.  Matt then moved on to private practice where he attained the status of partner in the Peoria law firm of Johnson, Bunce & Noble, P.C. while being simultaneously engaged on behalf several prestigious Chicago law firms in their legislative practice.  During that time, one of his principle clients remained the Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor.  While serving Illinois’ State’s Attorneys, he was principally involved in negotiating the Capital Punishment reforms proposed in the wake of Governor Ryan’s blanket commutation and reform study committee report.

 

Matt accepted a full-time position with the Agency in February 2009, eventually being named Associate Director, with responsibility for Continuing Legal Education, Government Affairs, public records disclosure and external communications via the Agency’s website.  In that role, Matt has worked to upgrade the existing CLE programs (our Basic, Advanced and Capital Litigation Trial Ad programs) through updated materials, equipment and facilities.  In addition, the Matt is responsible for developing or collaborating on several new training opportunities for Illinois, including:

 

  •      “Ethics: The Movie”
  •       Courtroom Visuals
  •      Justice Robert Steigmann’s popular “Hot Tips” Evidence program
  •      Domestic violence/sexual assault training under the ARREST grant
  •      “Acts of Persuasion” (a performance based training program)
  •      Arson prosecution trial ad program’s in conjunction with the Illinois State Fire Marshall
  •      Drug Asset Forfeiture
  •      Executive State’s Attorneys Program
  •      Executive Leadership and Management Training

Matt is the designated Prosecutor Coordinator for the State of Illinois and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators, where he works to improve the training and advocacy efforts  of America’s state and local prosecutors across the country and in our nation’s Capital.

 

Matt maintains his active membership in the Peoria County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Abraham Lincoln Inns of Court.

 

When not busy at work, Matt and his wife Sandy are happiest raising their son Ben and daughter Emersyn.